AWS Certification vs GIAC:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, AWS Certification had more branded searches than GIAC among IT certification providers worldwide. AWS Certification had about 135,000 branded searches, while GIAC had 4,400. AWS Certification made up 8.8% of all IT certification provider searches we track, and GIAC accounted for 0.29%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about IT certification providers, AWS Certification appeared in one of the five answers and GIAC in none.
Who do people search for more?
AWS Certification, about 31 searches for every 1 for GIAC
Who does AI mention more?
AWS Certification, mentioned in 1 of 5 answers, GIAC in 0
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Top IT certification providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, AWS Certification was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. GIAC did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
CompTIA1st
Cisco2nd
Microsoft Learn3rd
ISC24th- AWS Certification5th
PRINCE2–
PMI–
GIAC–
EXIN–
Axelos–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Cisco5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- CompTIA5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Microsoft Learn3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- ISC22 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- AWS Certification1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- PRINCE20 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- PMI0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- GIAC0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- EXIN0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Axelos0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about IT certification providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which IT certification provider should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best IT certification providers?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best IT certification provider for a career certificate?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best it certifications”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“it certification courses”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is AWS Certification or GIAC more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for AWS Certification and GIAC by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten IT certification providers we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for AWS Certification, GIAC. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Cisco | Microsoft Learn | CompTIA | AWS Certification | PRINCE2 | PMI | GIAC | ISC2 | EXIN | Axelos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 36.6% | 23.2% | 24.5% | 12.5% | 1.4% | 0.92% | 0.5% | 0.27% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 38.4% | 24.4% | 21% | 13.1% | 1.4% | 0.96% | 0.43% | 0.23% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 35.3% | 27.4% | 19.6% | 14.7% | 1.3% | 0.88% | 0.48% | 0.26% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 36% | 28% | 20% | 12.3% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.6% | 0.27% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 42.9% | 22.5% | 19.4% | 12.1% | 1.3% | 0.89% | 0.49% | 0.26% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Mar 2026 | 41.3% | 25.6% | 18.7% | 11.7% | 1.3% | 0.86% | 0.38% | 0.25% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Apr 2026 | 42.7% | 22.7% | 19.5% | 12.2% | 1.3% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 0.21% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 41.1% | 25.8% | 18.8% | 11.8% | 1.1% | 0.86% | 0.31% | 0.26% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 42.2% | 27.4% | 15.8% | 12.1% | 1.1% | 0.89% | 0.32% | 0.18% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 44.9% | 28.1% | 14% | 10.5% | 1.2% | 0.77% | 0.34% | 0.19% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 47% | 24.3% | 17.5% | 9.1% | 0.99% | 0.66% | 0.3% | 0.16% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 45.7% | 22.9% | 20.6% | 8.8% | 0.97% | 0.65% | 0.29% | 0.16% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
How has the AWS Certification and GIAC comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- AWS Certification was ahead of GIAC in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AWS Certification’s share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide moved from 12.5% to 8.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 135K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GIAC’s share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide moved from 0.5% to 0.29%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 4.4K.
How did search popularity change for IT certification providers worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
AWS Certification’s share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 12.1% to 8.8% in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for GIAC worldwide fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 6.6K to 4.4K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AWS Certification’s and GIAC’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
AWS Certification
1 branded search term
- aws certification
GIAC
1 branded search term
- giac certification
Other head-to-heads among IT certification providers
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